The research, focused on IT services and social good, will look at augmenting software engineers with powerful Artificial Intelligence insights and recommendation for improved productivity.

The focus areas of the program includes research in natural language processing, machine learning, neural network, virtual agents, deep learning and other areas of artificial intelligence.

It will include software analytics - building, testing, managing and modernization of applications, solving real life social issues such as malnutrition, human trafficking, climate, etc. through prediction and recommendation models, using Artificial Intelligence.

"One of the major areas that the research will focus on is natural language processing," said Pushpak Bhattacharyya, director, IIT Patna.

IIT has a lot of strength in natural language processing and our academics and researchers will bring that to the table, he said.

It will include things like question matching and natural language processing to augment productivity, he said.

The research will also focus on social good. "If you can provide a local language interface on the ground in the villages, interaction becomes much more efficient," said Sanjay Poddar, managing director, research and development - Lead at Accenture Lab Bangalore.

Accenture Labs is the dedicated technology research and development (R&D) organisation within Accenture, focused on developing innovative solutions.

The joint research program will have a physical footprint across IIT-Bombay, IIT-Patna and Accenture Labs, Bangalore. PhD researchers will be based across these three locations for the joint research program.

"This joint research program is one among the unique research programs with IIT focused on Artificial Intelligence," said Poddar.

"Each one of us will play to our strength as a team. Accenture Lab has cutting edge research on artificial intelligence.

This collaboration with IIT will give the opportunity to scale up the research with smart researchers in academia," he said.